Pontiac woman pregnant with twins dies from heart condition

Friends and family are grieving after a Pontiac woman pregnant with twins died Sunday.

An autopsy performed Monday by Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office revealed the woman died as a result of peripartum cardiomyopathy -- enlargement of the heart that may occur in the last months of pregnancy for women having twins.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office reported that deputies were called at 1:10 p.m. to a home in the 100 block of W. Kennett.

At the home they found an unresponsive 28-year-old pregnant woman. Star EMS paramedics were performing CPR. The woman, who was carrying twins, was immediately transported to McLaren Hospital.

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The woman and the two fetuses were pronounced deceased by McLaren Hospital personnel at 1:47 p.m. and 2:01 p.m., respectively.

Deputies said there were no obvious signs of foul play at the scene and the victim did not have a medical history of heart trouble. Officials did not release the woman's name.

The article stated the National Hospital Discharge Survey (1990-2002) estimated that the condition occurs in one in every 2,289 live births in the United States, and it appears to be more common in African-American women.

Dr. Pam Marcovitz, who specializes in cardiovascular medicine at Beaumont Hospital's Ministrelli Women's Heart Center, explained cardiomyopathy is a "disease of the heart muscle that causes the heart to function poorly."

Women may not be aware of the condition since "some signs of heart failure may overlap with signs of advanced pregnancy such as ankle swelling or shortness of breath," said Marcovitz.

"The difference is the degree."

If a person is experiencing shortness of breath during heart failure, even lying flat won't help the person regain normal breathing.

Another heart failure symptom is suddenly awakening with shortness of breath, she said.

Marcovitz urged proper prenatal care for all mothers, especially those who may have symptoms.

With the proper diagnosis, most women will eventually recover normal or near normal heart function, she said.

Contact Carol Hopkins at 248-745-4645 or carol.hopkins@oakpress.com. Follow her on Twitter @OPCarolHopkins or on Facebook @OPcarolhopkins.